Pallone Voices Support for Israel's Right of Self-Defense

Long Branch, NJ --- U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) today expressed his strong support for the nation of Israel as it continued to defend itself against attacks from the Hezbollah and Hamas terrorist groups, and called on the European Union to end their criticisms of Israeli actions.

"Israel is taking necessary actions to protect itself and its citizens from terrorist attacks," Pallone said. "Throughout its existence Israel has had to fend off violence coming from all sides, and these recent actions are no different. Hezbollah and Hamas have fired rockets on Israeli citizens and killed and captured soldiers -- Israel is right to respond and the international community should stand behind them."

Pallone condemned the European Union (EU) and certain European nations in particular for criticizing Israel's actions. On Thursday, the European Union issued a statement denouncing Israel's "disproportionate use of force" in Lebanon to respond to attacks by Hezbollah. These comments were echoed by French President Jacques Chirac and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. The EU also said that "the imposition of an air and sea blockade on Lebanon cannot be justified."

In a letter to the President of the Council of the EU, Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, the New Jersey congressman voiced strong disapproval of the comments made by the EU and individual member nations. Pallone asked that the Prime Minister reconsider his comments and issue a statement in support of Israel's right to defend itself.

"I find those comments to be misguided and unfair to Israel," Pallone wrote. "In order to defend itself and its citizens from attacks on two sides, Israel has responded with the intent of ending the terrorist organizations' capacity to carry out further violence. The blockade is necessary to prevent further arms, military supplies, and terrorists from entering Lebanon and being used against Israel. It is widely known that Hezbollah has long been funded and aided by both Syria and Iran, and that assistance would continue during the violence if Israel were not to impose the blockade."

The recent violence began on June 25, when Hamas attacked a military post in southern Israel, kidnapping a soldier named Galid Shalit and killing two others. On July 12, the Lebanese terrorist organization Hezbollah, which is funded and armed by Lybia and Iran, attacked northern Israel, killing eight Israeli soliders and kidnapping two others. Israel has responded to both attacks by attacking terrorist infrastructure and attempting to hold the Palestinian Authority and the Lebanese government responsible.